Lynch wins big in revamped congressional district

Decade-long U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch welcomed Quincy and several other South Shore communities to his district Tuesday, toppling an upstart Republican challenger to win the 8th Congressional District seat that was reconstituted by the new Census

Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch welcomed Quincy and several other South Shore communities to his district Tuesday, toppling an upstart Republican challenger to win the newly drawn 8th Congressional District seat.

In declaring victory shortly after 9:30 p.m., the South Boston Democrat estimated that he took Quincy by about 80-20 percent.

Speaking to supporters at Phillips Old Colony House in Dorchester, Lynch decried the gridlock affecting both houses of Congress.

‘‘I’m hoping that we can come together,’’ Lynch said. ‘‘This is not a time in our country’s history that we can afford to have Washington in deadlock’’

Lynch defeated Selvaggi handily across the district.

A resident and native of South Boston, Lynch was technically elected to the seat for the first time, although he has served since 2001 in what was the 9th Congressional District.

The district, centered in South Boston and Dorchester, was changed this year after the 2010 Census data to include Quincy, Weymouth, Cohasset Abington, Hingham, Hull and Scituate.

The new 8th Congressional District has about 727,000 people.

The transition was a smooth one for the 57-year-old Lynch, as residents of Quincy and the South Shore have strong to South Boston and Dorchester.

Lynch, who was once an ironworker, appeared to be a well known name in Quincy and Weymouth despite having never represented the communities as an elected official. He has several family members who live on the South Shore.

Lynch has developed a reputation on Capitol Hill as a conservative Democrat, known for voting against President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. He has pointed to Republican pledges to never raise taxes as a position that is preventing Congress from getting the country’s finances in order.

Lynch is also involved in military issues, and has made several trips to Afghanistan to help play a role in the country’s civic development after the war there.

Selvaggi, a first-time candidate and entrepreneur who lives on Beacon Hill, did not appear much of a challenge for Lynch in a majority of the district.